Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men descended upon West Jerusalem yesterday, bringing the city to a grinding halt as they protested the mandatory military service that their community has long been exempt from. The demonstration was the latest in a string of protests against the move, which has sparked tensions within Israeli society.
As many as 200,000 people took to the streets, mostly dressed in traditional black suits and hats, waving placards denouncing conscription and carrying banners emblazoned with slogans like "The people are with the Torah" and "Closing the yeshiva – a death sentence for Judaism." The protest was largely peaceful, but one teenager died after falling from a construction site near the demonstration.
At least 2,000 police officers were deployed to maintain order, as authorities struggled to contain the sea of protesters blocking roads and causing chaos in the city. Shmuel Orbach, a protester, expressed frustration with the exemption: "Right now, people who refuse to go to the army are taken to military prison... You cannot fight against Judaism in a Jewish country; it does not work."
The controversy surrounding military service has long been a contentious issue within Israeli society, particularly as the ultra-Orthodox community makes up about 14% of the population. In recent months, thousands of young men have received call-up notices, sparking widespread protests and desertions. The debate over exemptions has become a major headache for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
The Supreme Court ruled last year that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men into service, but the move has been met with resistance from both within and outside the community. In July, Israel's ultra-Orthodox party, United Torah Judaism, announced it was quitting the coalition government, leaving Netanyahu with a razor-thin majority.
As the country teeters on the brink of elections, set to take place by late October 2026, the issue remains unresolved. A new conscription bill has yet to be passed, despite efforts from both ultra-Orthodox and secular factions. With at least 11 new parties already registered for the ballot box, the stage is set for a potentially divisive election that could further polarize Israel's society.
As many as 200,000 people took to the streets, mostly dressed in traditional black suits and hats, waving placards denouncing conscription and carrying banners emblazoned with slogans like "The people are with the Torah" and "Closing the yeshiva – a death sentence for Judaism." The protest was largely peaceful, but one teenager died after falling from a construction site near the demonstration.
At least 2,000 police officers were deployed to maintain order, as authorities struggled to contain the sea of protesters blocking roads and causing chaos in the city. Shmuel Orbach, a protester, expressed frustration with the exemption: "Right now, people who refuse to go to the army are taken to military prison... You cannot fight against Judaism in a Jewish country; it does not work."
The controversy surrounding military service has long been a contentious issue within Israeli society, particularly as the ultra-Orthodox community makes up about 14% of the population. In recent months, thousands of young men have received call-up notices, sparking widespread protests and desertions. The debate over exemptions has become a major headache for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
The Supreme Court ruled last year that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men into service, but the move has been met with resistance from both within and outside the community. In July, Israel's ultra-Orthodox party, United Torah Judaism, announced it was quitting the coalition government, leaving Netanyahu with a razor-thin majority.
As the country teeters on the brink of elections, set to take place by late October 2026, the issue remains unresolved. A new conscription bill has yet to be passed, despite efforts from both ultra-Orthodox and secular factions. With at least 11 new parties already registered for the ballot box, the stage is set for a potentially divisive election that could further polarize Israel's society.
this protest is getting out of hand... i mean its understandable they dont wanna serve in the army but its affecting everyone else who wants to move around west jerusalem 
200k people took to the streets its crazy! 
why cant we find a middle ground? 
its not just about the ultra orthodox community its about whats best for israel as a whole 
meanwhile, the gov is all like 'we gotta do what we gotta do' but at the same time can't just let 14% of the population feel like its being taken away from them 
maybe this whole situation could be an opportunity for some reflection on what its means to serve something bigger than yourself? 
this whole thing feels so unfair 
i mean, what's the point of having a strong army if not everyone is contributing? 
so why does one group get a free pass? 
I'm not saying they're being unfair or anything, but it seems like there's a lack of understanding between the different communities. It's like, can't we all just get along? 
it's like they're literally saying no to life 
200k ppl cant be right thats a lot 
2k police officers deployed lol that wasnt enuf 
dont get me wrong i feel for these jewish ppl but its like a big headache for netanyahu 
It's making it hard for me to focus on the actual issue at hand - the tensions between ultra-Orthodox Jews and the Israeli government.
. Is it too much to ask for a simple, clean design that doesn't overwhelm the reader? I swear, some websites look like they were designed by a kindergartener having a temper tantrum 
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. With so many parties registered for the ballot box, it's hard to see a clear winner or outcome. And with Netanyahu struggling to keep his majority... I don't know, man, I'm just feeling a bit anxious 
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? Please. It's not that hard to understand that not everyone can or should serve in the military – maybe they have health issues or family obligations 
. Newsflash: Israel is a democracy, not some kind of theocracy where one group gets to dictate rules for everyone else 
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the thing thats got me so angry is that theyre protesting mandatory military service but its not just about them its about how it affects EVERYONE else who has to pay for their education and healthcare etc thru taxes lol like come on guys make up ur minds already 
sounds like a PR stunt to me. And another kid dies in the chaos... how does that even happen? 
just witnessed this crazy scene in West Jerusalem 
protesters were all about that #TorahLife 
but then tragedy struck 
1 teen died falling from a construction site... what's going on?! 
. But at the same time, it's hard to argue with the fact that everyone in Israel is supposed to contribute to the country's defense 
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. It's going to be a wild ride if they can't find a way to resolve this before then 
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